Reversible latch



(No Model.)

D. H. FITZGERALD.

REVERSIBLE LATCH.

No. 311,575. Patented Peb. 3,188.5.

N, PETERS4 Phqmmmgmner, washingmw D. c.

ilnirnn drames Partnr @mirenD DANIEL H. FITZGERALD, OF READING, PENNSYLVANIA.

REVERSlBLE LATCH;

rl-CFECATXQN forming part of Letters Patent No. 311,575, dated February 3, D885.

Application [lied August 20, 1884. (No model `useful Improvement in Reversible Latches, of

which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to latches which may be reversed in position to adapt them for a right or left hand door; and the essential ohre ject of the invention is to provide a means for reversing a latch-blt, which is of such a simstantly after such sliding movement.

ple nature and inexpensive construction that it may be embodiedin the lowest-priced latches now made, as well as in the more expensive ones. l

A further object of the invention is to provide a latch which can never be reversed unless the knob-spindle is removed, whereby all liability of the latch becoming reversed while in use is prevented. Ordinarily the spindlehub whereby the latch is retracted is j ournaled in holes in the two plates of the loclccase, 'and is capable of a rotary motion only. In my improved latch the hub is made of a length to extend from the inner side of one plate tothe inner side of the other plate, and is capable of sliding between the plates in a direction and to an extent suflicient to enable the reversible portion of the latch to be turned, and a spring is provided lfor returning the hub in- The holes in the plates of the lock-case are only made large enough to receive the square knobspindle, and to prevent the latch from being moved suiliciently to reverse the said latchbolt. 0n the inner faces or sides of the plates ofthe lock-case are cast semicircular ribs or iianges, which form bearings for the hub and conn'ne it against sliding movement in every direction save that necessary to permit the projection of the bolt sufficiently to allow of 2 is a sectional view on the dotted line w, Fig. l. Fig. 3 isa sectional View ofthe hub and a portion of the case, the plane ofthe sectional view being on the dotted line y y, Fig. 2.

Similar letters ot' reference designate corresponding parts in the several figures.

A A designate two side plates of the lock case, and A2 is the face-plate thereof'. B designates a portion of the latch-bolt, which consist-s of a yoke or fork guided between the projections a a on the part A of the case, and also provided with upwardly-projecting ears or lugs Z), on which the toes or ears c et' the hub C act to withdraw the bolt in the usual way. The reversible portion B of the bolt has at the inner end of its shank a head orrflange, d, which is litted to acavity or socket, e, in the forked portion` B of the bolt, so that the two parts B B will move together longitudinally, while allowing of the part B being turned independently of the part B, when withdrawn sufficiently to free the square nose of the latchbolt from its slideway in the face-plate A2. The part B may be cast separately and its flange or head d dropped into a cavity or socket; or the shank and said head or lange may be covered with oil or parting-sand and placed the metal cast around it. As here shown the socket or cavity c is not entirely closed, but has an opening, e, through which the partingsand may be removed after casting. In this way provision is afforded for turning the reversible portion B of the latch. The bolt B has a shoulder, f, against which bears a spring, g, whereby the bolt is projected and the lugs or ears b held against the toes or ears c 0f the hub C. The hub G is shorter than those usually employed-that is, instead of -its being long enough to project through and have j onrnals in the plates A A of the case, it is of such length that it may slide between the plates, as shown in Fig. 2. On the inner side of the plates A A are cast lips or iianges 71 which are semicircular in form, and which form journals for the hub. These lips or flanges confine the in which it is necessary to project the bolt to reverse it, and the hub is held against movement, or has its movement in that direction resisted by a spring of any suitable form. I have here represented a straight steel spring, i, which is confined at its ends, and bears against a projection or toe, ii, on the hub, and thereby serves to hold the hub against movement toward the spring. The arrangement hub G against sliding in all directions save that in the mold of the part B before casting and V ICO of this spring is best seen in Fig. 3. The spindle F is square, and is fitted to thehub C, as is usual, and the holesj in the plates A A', through which the spindle is inserted, are of such size that the corners of the spindle fill them, and so prevent any sliding movement of the hub so long as the spindle is in place. The holes j in the plates of the case are not large enough to receive'the hub C, and the ends of the hub therefore never enter these holes. Before the spindle has been placed in the hub, if it is desired to reverse the portion B ofthe latch-bolt, it is only necessary to take hold of the nose of the bolt and pull it outward sufiicientl y to free its square portion from the hole in the face-plate. Vhen the bolt is thus pulled out the spring t' yields to the press ure ofthe hub O, and the two portions ot the bolt and the hubs are all slid or pulled forward sufliciently to permit the turning of the bolt portion B half round, whereupon the hub and bolt will be retracted or returned to normal position by the spring z' acting on the hub. After the spindle is inserted the bolt cannot become reversed while in use.

A slight saving of metal is effected by making the hub of less length than usual, and this saving is almost su'ilicient to balance the cost of the spring.

My invention enables a reversible latch to be made at such slight-expense that it may advantageously be embodied in the cheapest latches.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination, with the side plates, A A,'ot'a lock-case, ofthe latch-bolt composed of the yoke or fork B, having ears b, and the part B7 capable of being turned relatively to the yoke B, a spring for projecting the bolt, the hub C, Iconsisting of a single piece of a length to tit and slide between the plates of the lock-ease, and having toes c, which act upon the ears Z to retract the bolt, and a spring for resisting the sliding movement of the hub in a direction to project the bolt, substantially as herein described.

2. The combination, with the lock-case constructed with semicircular flanges h on their inner sides, of the hub tting in said flanges and capable of sliding between the plates of the case, a spring for resisting such sliding movement ot' the hub, and a latch-bolt comprising a reversible portion, substantially as herein described. l

3. The combination, with a lock-case and a bolt comprising a reversible portion, of a hub arranged to slide between the plates of the case, a spring for resisting the sliding movement of the hubv in a direction to project the bolt, and a spindle fitting the hub, the plates of the lock-case being formed with holes which are of sufficient size to receive the spindle, but too small to receive the hub, and which prevent any sliding movement of the hub so long as the spindle is in place, substantially as herein described.

4. The combination, with the plates A A, having semicircular flanges h, and the hub C, `journaled therein and sliding between the plates, of the spring i, extending across and bearing upon the hub, and confined at its ends, and the bolt B B', capable'of operation by the hub, substantially as herein described. f

DANIEL H. FITZGERALD. Vitnesses: A

C. HALL, FREDK. HAYNEs. 

